Christians: We’re better than this y’all. We don’t have time to play games. Divisive Christians aren’t making a good name for us and we’ll discuss how to spot them and maybe take a closer look in the mirror.
Jesus told us to blast hypocrites with megaphones on social media. Wait, that’s not what the verse says. He commissioned us to go into the world and spread the GOOD NEWS that He came to set captives free.
Are there false prophets? Yes. Are Christians spending too much time pointing fingers tattle telling to the world instead of focusing on spreading the GOOD NEWS? Yes! We should call out brothers’ sin for what it is but not on public domains. We need to quit making Christians seem so divisive and turning away future believers.
How to Spot a Divisive Christian?
- They care more about doctrine than spreading the gospel message
- They would rather argue than have a beneficial dialogue on Christianity
- They post more negative or divisive things on social media instead of positive
- They spend their time calling out others and less on pointing others to Jesus
- They aren’t characterized IRL by being an encourager or uplifter of others
We want to be fighters for Jesus but not like this.
What’s the good news? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
What Does the Bible Say about Being a Divisive Christian?
Paul in the Bible who wrote most of the New Testament was a formerly divisive person. He tenaciously persecuted Christians that he thought were leading others astray. Shockingly, after accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he became a more peaceful individual.
That doesn’t mean he wasn’t passionate and tenacious still by character. Believe it or not, those are positive character attributes when used in the right way. I’m sure that’s probably why Jesus chose him to be his disciple.
To address divisiveness, the Lord must first work on our hearts and we must respond with better attitudes.
Paul addresses conflict in the church and says this on the topic:
“Make EVERY effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:3
Verses 12-13 go on to say… “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and BUILD UP the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such UNITY in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”
What are the keywords here about the church body? Build up and unity. Is that what’s going on today? Jesus is coming back for His church, His bride, and we need to quit looking for flaws in each other and focus on what’s in front of us, Jesus coming back. We must strive to be at peace with one another, building each other up, and unifying all parts of the body.
How to Correctly Scorn a Brother or Sister in Christ?
So now that we know how our hearts should be on that matter, let’s talk logistics on how to confront other believers biblically. Keyword BELIEVERS. Paul again here states to gently and humbly help your brother or sisters in Christ back onto the right path. We don’t spat doctrine in an angry, overbearing, or self-righteous manner. (Hopefully, you don’t parent that way either).
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should GENTLY and HUMBLY help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” Galatians 6:1
What does Jesus say about it? Remember the parable of the lost sheep? A man has 100 sheep but loses one and goes out of his way to find it and celebrates when he does. He rejoices over the one lost sheep more than the 99 that never left in the first place.
Jesus tells this story first right before His specific instruction on correcting another believer. I’m sure it was not by mistake but by design. I could be wrong but to me that says, we don’t want to lose a brother or sister in Christ so approach them in a way that will win them and not turn them away more.
Here is Jesus’ instruction: “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”
What Did Jesus Do with False Teachers IRL?
Did Jesus let false teachers and fakers get away with it IRL? No actually. He called them out but it wasn’t all the time. In fact, it happened a couple of times in the Bible even though He faced them His whole life and they are the reason He was eventually crucified. He waited until it was the right time and place to scorn them. In Matthew, He didn’t approach them, they were actually trying to correct Him so let that sink in…
“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” Matthew 12:34
If you look at the context of why Jesus was responding this way in chapter 12, the pharisees were trying so hard to catch Him breaking rules so they could punish Him. They first were being judgemental of His disciples for picking grain and eating it when they were hungry on the sabbath. Then they were inferring that healing a man with a withered hand on the sabbath was a sin as well. So obviously this would be infuriating but again, they were the ones trying to call Him out but they were in the wrong. They were on their self-righteous high horse.
He goes on to warn them in verses 36-37 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Below in Mark, Jesus takes the initiative with confrontation. He shows holy indignation when the temple was being turned into a marketplace which is obviously not the purpose of a place of worship.
“When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
The Enemy Wants to Distract Us
So we’ve addressed the heart of divisiveness, how to properly correct other believers but let’s see where the root of this division comes from… satan. The enemy wants to distract us from our main objective with what little time we have left.
If he can get us to focus our efforts on arguing with each other, we will miss the very ones we have been called to share the GOOD NEWS with. That my friend, is something I want no part in.
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Now that we know who the TRUE enemy really is, we should also have more understanding. Not only that but the Bible instructs us to put on the full armor of God against the enemies SCHEMES. If he can divide the church, he can keep many people away who would’ve been saved.
Jesus said in John 8:43-44 this… “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a LIAR and the FATHER OF LIES.”
In contrast, God is a God of peace, not confusion. Satan thrives in lies and confusion.
“For God is not a God of confusion but OF PEACE, as in all the churches of the saints.”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
The Bottom Line
My point is I’m tired of seeing more division in Christian-to-Christian interaction online. For instance, people devote whole YouTube videos and posts to attack the characters of Christians in the spotlight. I’m not sure if that’s necessarily wrong to do but that’s not my point. If a Christian spends more time calling out false doctrine instead of sharing sound doctrine, there just might be something wrong.
There is a time and place for sharpening one another and calling out brothers and sisters we love. People do need to know if they’re attending a more cultish and less biblical church, this is true. I also know sometimes we can’t personally talk face to face if we don’t know the pastor.
To me, it still seems like the right place is not on the internet publicly to scorn or shame them in front of Christians and non-Christians alike. It only turns non-Christians away instead of accomplishing what we’ve been called to do, which is to point them to Jesus. If you must say something, at least say it in a loving way.
Jesus says in Matthew 10:16, “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”
There are circumstances where it may be appropriate to call something out or openly state things. For example, Jesus called the Pharisees a brood of vipers and He overturned tables IN THE TEMPLE. He was perfect and we should still call out wolves in sheep’s clothing for who they are. But our MAIN purpose and focus should remain to be sharing the gospel.
A Prayer For You
Thank You Lord Jesus for calling us out and giving us more clear direction on being Your follower. Please help us in these last days to stay focused to reach many souls for You! Let us not lose sight of the purpose we are here for in the short time we have left. Give us wisdom and discernment to see through the enemy’s attacks and to always hear Your voice above all others. Thank You that no weapon formed against us will prosper. Let Your will be done in and through us at all times and draw all hearts to You that don’t know You. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen!